Islanders Come Up Short against SLU

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball came close in the second half but couldn't get the ball to roll its way at the right time in an 83-74 decision against Southeastern on Thursday at the American Bank Center.
 
A&M-Corpus Christi (16-10, 3-6 SLC) trailed by 14 in the second half when they got the deficit down to two with 7:16 left, but SLU (15-12, 803 SLC) was able to make plays down the stretch to stop the comeback.
 
Junior Isaac Mushila registered a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. He was 6-of-10 from the floor and also grabbed four steals.
 
Heavily contributing to the offense was junior Trevian Tennyson with 16 points including four three-pointers. Senior De'Lazarus Keys neared a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Lions executed from the free throw line where they were 31-of-33 (.939). Gus Okafor turned in a big night with 32 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Islanders outrebounded the Lions 39-36 and held a positive turnover margin of 18-13. Though, SLU shot 8-of-19 (.421) from three-point range compared to A&M-Corpus Christi's 5-of-24 (.209).
 
The game was back-and-forth through the first 14 minutes. A pair of free throws by junior Jalen Jackson tied it 14-14 with 11:45 left, and a floater by junior Terrion Murdix had A&M-Corpus Christi ahead 22-21 with 8:33 remaining.
 
The turnover point came in the final six minutes of the first half. The Islanders were down just 25-24 when the Lions went on an 8-0 run to lead 33-24 with 4:27 to go. SLU carried a 41-32 advantage into the intermission.
 
The Lions extended their lead to 49-35 early in the second half. Buckets by senior San Antonio Brinson and junior Tyrese Nickelson cut it back into single-figures 57-49 at the 11:40 mark.
 
Still down 61-51, the Islanders went on an 8-0 run as back-to-back threes by Tennyson trimmed it to 61-59 with 7:16 left. Though, SLU scored the next five points to quickly get the lead back up to 66-59 with 6:13 remaining. The Lions pushed their edge back up to double-figures with 3:22 to go.
 
The Islanders will play their Homecoming game Saturday in a later start at 5 p.m. against Northwestern State at the American Bank Center.
 
NOTES
- The Islanders are 12-9 all-time against Southeastern and 8-4 at home. The two teams split the season series, each winning at home.
 
- The Islanders are 8-3 at home this year, 209-104 all-time at home and 139-76 all-time in the American Bank Center.
 
- A&M-Corpus Christi entered the game ranked 12th in the nation in turnovers forced per game (17.64) and were right on par after forcing 18.
 
- Mushila tallied his 10th double-double of the year. It was also his 20th double-figure scoring game and 12th double-digit rebounding affair. His four steals were a career-high.
 
. Tennyson has hit a three-pointer in every game this year. He notched his 16th double-figure scoring outing and sixth in a row.
 
- Keys submitted his 12th career double-figure scoring game and ninth this year. He was 6-of-8 from the field.
 


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